James Reynolds
Associate Counsel

Professional Summary

Jim Reynolds acts primarily for Aboriginal clients. He is the General Counsel for the Musqueam Indian Band and has acted for the Band for over 30 years. He also acts for other First Nations and other clients.

Jim graduated from the London School of Economics with a LLB and Ph.D. and, after teaching at the London School of Economics for a few years, subsequently qualified as a Barrister in England and as a Barrister and Solicitor in British Columbia. He has practised for over 30 years mainly in the areas of Aboriginal, commercial and real estate law.

He has acted for clients in major litigation advancing Aboriginal rights, including the Guerin, Sparrow and Haida cases. He has also acted for clients in many economic development projects and negotiated and documented many major transactions, including the Musqueam Reconciliation Agreement with the Province in 2008. He has been repeatedly listed as a leading practitioner in Aboriginal law in the L’expert Survey and Best Lawyers in Canada.

His academic activities have included teaching at the London School of Economics and the University of British Columbia and he is a frequent speaker at professional conferences. He has numerous publications, including articles in the Advocate, the Modern Law Review, the Canadian Bar Review, the UBC Law Review, the Banking and Finance Law Review, the National Banking Law Review, and Euromoney. His book A Breach of Duty – Fiduciary Obligations and Aboriginal Peoples was published in 2005.

“The Spectre of Spectra: The Evolution of the Crown’s Fiduciary Obligations to Aboriginal Peoples since Delgamuukw” in Maria Morelatto (ed.), Aboriginal Law Since Delgamuukw (Aurora, Ont.: Canada Law Book, 2009).

“The Beauty of Compromise: The Musqueam Reconciliation Agreement” in Continuing Legal Education Society of British Columbia, Aboriginal Law Conference 2008.

“Sir Thomas More, The Lawyer: A Man of His Season” (2007) The Advocate 639.